Awning structure



Dec. 7, 1937. v E WAD E L 2,101,695

AWNING STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 15, 1956 INVENTOR.

Zdgar Mdde/l Y ATTORNEY-5.

Patented Dec. 7, 1937 AWNING sreocroan Edgar S. Waddeil, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The Randall Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application September 15, 1936, Serial No. 100,903

11 Claims.

' purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ventilated awning structure of the character stated, wherein movement. of the fabric portion thereof to a collapsed or folded inoperative posi- 20 tion results in disposition of the fabric portion to a protected and concealed location entirely within the confines of the canopy portion of the awning structure.

a The foregoing and other objects are attained 25 by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmental perspective view of an awning structure embodying the invention, and showing its application tothe frame of a window ordoor aperture.

Fig. 2 is afragmental cross sectional view taken 'onlineL-lof Fig. 1.. v 1

In the accompanying drawing, the frame of a door'or window aperture is indicated by the char- 5 uprights, .and the member! being the. horizontal upper-connectihgpiecefor the uprights.

Tosthe, horizontalmember 5 .there is fastened,

by, any suitable means'such was screws, nails, or

. ...th e like I .a canopyindicatedgenerally by the character TI. The canopy preferably isin twoormore ninnbered I .and ,8, adapted to teleor'overlapl-oneanother for the-purpose of ualtering thelengthofthe canopy to accommodate asxframe's of various sizes. Each section of -the canopy preferably .is, provided with .-a "series ,of ,louvres or ventilators i0. which serve as ports for the. escape .,of heat or ,room odors .that might be pocketed wlthin thez oanopy in the-absence of "50 suchports. mire-outer end of each canopysection is provided with an angular: side member :I 2,;pref- .erably integral with the associatedcanopyrsection, and bent.-.substantially-;atright angles seas to meet. an uprightmember of the aperture frame .435 .alongan Ledge t! of the-canopy side piece.

employing the simplest possible means for the acters v4, 5 and 6,;themenibers4 and 6 being the PATENT OFFICE Y The upper edge of each canopy section is providedwith a mounting flange bent at an angle to the front face of the canopy so as to flatly abut I the upper member 5 of the aperture'frame. The

lower forward edge of the canopy. or each sec- 5 tion thereof, is provided with a downwardly and. inwardly turned flange IS, the flanges l5 of each canopy section being adapted to overlap as at IS in substantially the manner that the mounting flanges M of each section overlap at H. As will be understood, adjustment in the length of the canopy may be effected by sliding the sections 8 and 9 longitudinally, before application of the fastening means i8 which is common to both sections. The mounting flange M of one of the canopy sections may be pierced or apertured at a. proper location to accommodate the fastener 18 after determining .the amount of overlap necessary to accommodate the canopy to a given size offrame.

The character 19 indicates a brace which may be in the former a metal strip spot welded or otherwise fixed to the under face of the canopy section 8, and having a downwardly turned end 20 in the plane of the mounting flange l4, whereby thebrace may be screwed or otherwise attached to the aperture frame, if necessary or desirable. As will be understood, the brace may be dispensed withon canopies which are not of unusual length, that is, the brace is not absolutely essential to the combination, as the overlap of the flanges ii of sections 8, anddare turned at such an angle as to preclude lateral-separation of the sections in the region of the overlap. I

The characters 2] and 22 indicate, respectively, front and side awning, sheets, preferably of an accepted fabric material, adapted to be supported at their upper: edges '23 and. 24, respectively, upon :the awning canopy. Thelower edges 25 and 26 are suitably secured, in accordance with common practice, to a sU-shaped metallic-frame .21 having legs that extend from the forward portion of the awning to; pivots '29 located upon the uprights of .theaperture frame. By-the use of means including arope or the like 30,;the frame '21 maybe swung about its opposed pivotsdil to-a position underneathmndwithin the confines of .the canopy 1.; It is deemed unnecessary todisclosespeciflcally the arrangement of ropes and pulleys commonly used ,for collapsing and extending the awning, as .anyacceptable and :well known type .of means for that :pu msemay be employed. ,Thecharacter .31 indicates a fastener onspool to which the rope 3.0,..maybe fastenedv for holding the awning in the-collapsedposltion.

The upper edges of the fabric sheets 2i and 22 are associated with the canopy in an exceedlngly simple and novel manner whereby, upon disposing the fabric material to the collapsed awning position, the material assumes a protected position well within the confines of the canopy. The means of associating the upper edges of the fabric sheets with the canopy are so designed as to permit easy detachment in the event that it is necessary to remove the sheet material for repairs, replacements, or winter storage, while at the same time resisting accidental displacement or detachment as the awning is manipulated to extend it or collapse it, as desired.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawing, the character 32 indicates an awning fabric support, a plurality of which are employed, the number thereof depending upon the length of the canopy. Each awning fabric support is preferably in the form of a hook having a securing base portion 33 welded or otherwise fixed to the under face of the canopy at a location near the forward flange ii. The support has an elongated shank portion 34 which extends in spaced substantial parallelism with the inclined top of the canopy, which shank portion is unusually long so as to provide a guide for the sliding of the .awning grommets 35 from the forward position shown in Fig. 2, to a shifted position at or near the free end 86 of the hook. As the shank of theawning support or hook is quite long, the free curved end 3 thereof terminates comparatively close to the upper securing flange ll of the canopy. The curved end 36 of the awning support 32 is bent toward the under face of the canopy top and rests thereon in substantial contact at the location 31. The awning support or the canopy when it is desired to remove the fabric portion of the awning for winter storage, or for other purposes.

The operation of the device is as follows Assuming that the awning structure of Fig. 1 is initially in the extended or operative position and that it is to be disposed in the collapsed or inoperative position, the operator may manipulate the rope 30 or equivalent means for moving the U-shaped frame 21 upwardly about its pivots 2a to shift the transverse member III to a position beneath the canopy and beyond the forward flange I thereof. In so shifting the frame. the

fabric of the awning will, asheretofore, be com-- pacted in a multiple of folds as it is swung upwardly, and upon entry of the folded mass into the protective confines of the canopy, the grommets I which are slidably supported upon the awning fabric supports 32, will be crowded toward the'aperture frame and caused to slide upwardly and inwardly along the elongated shank portions of the supp rts. This shifting of the grommets results in their yieldingample space at the. forward portion of the canopy for accommodating the awning sheet and permitting it to as- "--sume aposition of retirement therein, at which position the fabric sheeting i'sefi'ectually protected from the elements. --By' providing the turned portion it on each of the awning fabric supports 32, the grommets are prevented from the grommets from the supports 32, that may be accomplished quickly and simply by the mere act of forcing them pastthe contact points 31. The grommets H of the awning side pieces 22, may in a like manner be disassociated from the awning supports 39, which are similar to those indicated at 32 of Fig. 2. The side members l2 of the canopy may advantageously be provided with integral inwardly turned perforate lugs 43, adapted to receive screws or other fastening means for securing the side pieces of the canopy to the aperture frame. In its preferred form, the entire canopy is constructed cheaply and quickly from sheet-metal subjected to a punch press operation. It is anticipated that the production of unusually long canopies may require the interposition of a separate connecting member independent of the canopy sections 8 and 0, and cooperating therewith in substantially the manner set forth in the patent of Voorhees No. 798,756. Details such as this, however, are secondary to the provision of the means herein disclosed for shifting of the grommets along a stationary support, from which support the grommets may easily be displaced for dismantling the awning structure.

Attention is directed to the fact that the angularity between the flange i5 and the exposed face of the canopy, is less than a right angle, so that the flanges II of the adjacent canopy section have a locking relation with one another after the assembly is installed. It is to be understood that other types of interlocking means may be provided, if desired, and that various other modifications and changes in the structural details of therefor movable to a collapsed awning position at which the sheet of awning material enters beneath the canopy for protection from'the, elements, said canopy including a series of awning sheet supports in the form of hooks having elongated shank portions extending between the forward portion and the rear portion of the canopy, and upon which the upper portion of said sheet may slidably shift, to yield space at the forward portion of the canopy, for accommodating the awning sheet beneath the canopy when collapsed.

2. An awning structure which comprises in combination, a'canopy to be secured over a door or window aperture, an awning sheet having upper and lower edges, a supporting frame for the lower edge of the awning sheet arranged for movement toand from a-collapsed awning position beneath said canopy, means along the upper edge ,.of the awning sheet for suspending said sheet, and cooperative suspending means on the canopy comprising a series of' awning sheet supports in the form of elongated hooks each having an extensive shank portion disposed substantially along the width of the canopy and along which the means on the upper edge of the awning sheet may slide to a position of retirement well within the conflnes 'oi the canopy,

to make room for the awning sheet material when the awning is collapsed. J

3. An awning structure which comprises in 5 combination, a canopy to be secured over a door or window aperture, an awning sheet having upper and lower edges, a supporting frame for the lower edge of the awning sheet arranged for movement to and from a collapsed awning position beneath said canopy, means along the upper edge of the awning sheet for suspending said is collapsed, said hooks each having a base end fixed to the canopy and a yielding free end above the base end, over which free end the first-mentioned suspending means may be slid for quick detachability of the awning sheet from the canopy.

combination, a canopy to be secured over a door or window aperture, an awning sheet having upper and lower edges, a supporting frame for the lower edge of the awning sheet arranged for lapsed, said hooks eachhaving a base end fixed to the canopy and a yielding free end above the base end, over which free end the first mentioned suspending means may he slid for quick detachability of the awning sheet from the can-- 01 3/, said free end being normally in yielding contact with the canopy to preclude accidental displacement of the awning sheet relative to the canopy. l 5. An awning structure which comprises in combination, a canopy to be secured over a door or window aperture, an awning sheet havingv upper and lower edges, a supporting frame for thelower edge of the awning sheet arranged for movement to and from a collapsed awning position beneath. said canopy, means along the upper edge of the awning sheet for suspending said sheet, and cooperative suspending means i on the canopy comprising a series of awning sheet supports in the form of. elongated hooks each having an-extensive shank portion "along which the means on the upper edge of the awning sheet may'siide to a position of retirement well within the confines of the canopy; to: make room for collapsed, said hooks each having a base end flxedto the canopy and a yielding. free end above the baseend, over which. free" end-the first mentioned suspending means "may be slid for quick detachability-of the awningusheet from thecanopy, said free end being. normally in yielding contact;. with the canopy to preclude accidental,

ydisplacernentio'f the awning sheetrrelatiye to the canopy, Whilethe adjacent extensive shank per- 4. An awning structure which comprises inmovement to and from a collapsed awning posithe awning sheet material when the awning is tion rests in spaced substantial parallelism with the topof the canopy.

6. An awning canopy for supporting the upper edge of a-fabric awning sheet, and comprising in combination'a pair of complementary louvred sections each comprising an inclined top portion with a mounting flange along one edge and a guide flange along an opposed edge thereof, said guide flanges each being turned inwardly toward the canopy interior at an angle less than a ht an e, whe eby upon p acin the sections in overlapping relationship, with the mounting flanges fastened to" a support, the guide flanges lock with one another to preclude lateral separation of the canopy sections, and awning fabric support means within the canopy comprising a series of hook-like members each having a base part fixed to a section near the guide flange thereof, and an elongated shank portion extended from the base part to a location near said mounting flange.

7. An awning canopy for supporting the upper edge of a fabric awning sheet, and comprising in combination a pair of complementary louvred sections each comprising an inclined top portion with a mounting flange along one edge and a guide flange along an opposed edge thereof, said guide flanges each being turned inwardly toward the canopy interior at an angle less than a right angle, whereby upon placing the sections in overlapping relationship, with the mounting flanges fastened to' a support, the guide flanges lock with one another to preclude lateral separation of the canopy sections, and awning fabric support means within the canopy comprising a series of hook-like members each having a base part fixed to a section near the guide flange thereof, and an elongated shank portion extended from the base part to a location near said mounting flange, said elongated shank portion having a free end adapted to receive or release an awning sheet edge held in suspension by the shank portion of the hook-like member.

8. An awning canopy for supporting the upper edge of a fabric awning sheet, and comprising in combination a pair of complementary louvred sections each comprising an inclined top portion with a mounting flange along one edge and a guide flange along an opposed edge thereof, said guide flanges each being turned inwardly toward the canopy interior at an angle less than a right angle, whereby upon placing the sections in overlapping relationship, with the mounting flanges fastened to a support, the guide flanges lock with one another to preclude lateral separation of the canopy sections, and awning fabric'support means within the canopy comprising a series of hookiike members each having a base part flxed to a section near the guide flange thereof, and an elongated shank portion extended from the base part to a location near said mounting flange, said elongated shank portion being'spaced from the canopy and having a free end in yielding contact upon the canopy, at said location. Y a

9. A canopyfor' supporting the upper edge of a fabric awning sheet which is furnished with grommats-along said edcettner qp mp is an inclined top portion having an upper edge and a lower edge, the lower edge being the forwardly extended edge of thecanjopy, I and interior elongated support means: fixedly mounted relative to inwardly and. away from the lower .edge of the canopy top interiorly thereof when the awning sheet is collapsed and packed into the space heneath the canopy.

10. A canopy for supporting the upper edge of a fabric awning sheet, which latter includes suspension means along an upper edge thereof, the canopy comprising an inclined top portion having an upper edge and a lower edge, the lower edge being the forwardly extending edge of the canopy, and interior elongated support means fixedly mounted relative the canopy and adapted to support the suspension means of the awning sheet and to guide said suspension means inwardly and away from the lower edge of the canopy top interiorly thereof when the awning sheet is collapsed and packed into the space beneath the canopy.

11. In, an awning structure which includes a canopy for over-hanging the aperture trsmes of doors and windows. the combination of a sheet of flexible awning material and a supporting frame therefor movable to a collapsed awning position at which the sheet of the awning material enters beneath the canopy for protection from the elements, said canopy including a series of awning sheet'supports'in the form of books having elongated shank portions extending between the forward portion and the rear portion of the canopy, and upon which the upper portion of said sheet may slidably shift, to yield space at the forward portion of the canopy for accommodating the awning sheet beneath the canopy when collapsed.

EDGAR B. WADDILL. 

